County to demolish last building standing

It's the last building standing in the block north of the Blanchard River and east of the Main Street bridge. And it's set to come down as part of the river benching work to be done this year from the bridge to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way overpass. Earlier this month, the Hancock County Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the City of Findlay to demolish the property, at 119 Clinton Court. A review of the Clinton Court property was done in October 2020 by Mannik & Smith Group Inc., to determine if historical significance could place the structure on the National Register of Historic Places, as it is within the city's downtown historic district. "The former gas plant at 119 Clinton Court is not recommended eligible for listing in the NRHP," according to the engineering company's report. "... All proposed additional hydraulic improvements will be at or below the existing ground level and will not introduce any physical elements that will impact the current viewshed. The project will therefore have "no adverse effect" on the NRHP-listed Findlay Downtown Historic District." "... the building has been significantly altered," the report continues. "Major structural changes to the building since the 1930s have compromised its integrity of design, materials and workmanship. The building no longer serves its intended industrial use, and it has lost its integrity of setting, feeling and association." The report, a portion of which was provided by Steve Wilson, project manager for the board of commissioners, included information from various sources, including the former Republican Courier and writings by former publisher and owner R.L. Heminger. In 1903, Citizen Gas, Light and Coke Co. contracted to construct a new artificial gas plant. South of the building was a gasometer, or gas receiver/gas holder/gas storage structure. The plant was never used to produce artificial gas and was sold to Logan Natural Gas Co., based in Columbus. However, the gasometer was used for gas storage until 1928 and was dismantled in 1933. A warehouse proposed for the location never materialized. Then in 1934, the Main Street bridge was replaced and the Blanchard River straightened through the area, relocating the building to the north side of the river, just feet from the riverbank. By then, the property was owned by the Ohio Fuel Gas Co. A new river channel was relocated to the area where the gasometer had been and the city took ownership. The gas company received the former river channel property, which had been filled in. It was an even exchange, with no financial involvement from the city or the company. As a result of the river construction, the property could not be accessed from the south, but from Clinton Court on the north. A pedestrian bridge allows foot traffic access to the location. Civitan Park, at Taylor Street and Clinton Court, is nearby. The building was used as a warehouse and garage into the 1960s. It was later used by Superior Plating Co. for "hard chrome plating" until 1981. It was left vacant until the current owners began using it has a warehouse. The brick warehouse is owned by Ra-Nik Construction and has been discussed for years as a potential purchase option. Bob Nichols and the late Bert Rayl owned the business. The city will have the title to the property, donated for a dollar, but the county will provide flood-reduction money for remediation of any environmental contamination. An estimated $160,000 is necessary to remediate the building and area around it. The commissioners have approved up to $200,000 for the work. Maurer: 419-427-8420